The Indian athletics contingent's planned high-performance training camp in Poland has encountered a delay due to visa issues. The team, which is scheduled to begin training in the first week of July, has not yet received the necessary visa documents. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had planned to send a 68-member team to train at Spala's National Centre for Sports Training in preparation for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which start on July 23.
Sports Ministry Steps In
The AFI was informed that Polish visas would only be issued around August, prompting the sports ministry to intervene. A sports ministry spokesman told The Tribune on Monday, 'Yes there is a delay in issuing visas but now that the government is involved it will be sorted soon.' The ministry's involvement is expected to expedite the process.
Backup Plan in Czechia
Anticipating potential delays, the AFI had also made bookings for a training camp in Czechia. 'They had made bookings in Czechia as well as last time there was also a delay in the issuance of the Polish visa. We are expecting that the visas would be issued in two-three days’ time,' a source said. This dual-plan approach reflects lessons learned from previous visa delays.
Reduced Squad Size
The AFI has been advised to reduce the number of athletes traveling to Spala. 'They have been told to cut down the numbers. My guess is that only those selected for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games will travel for the training stint,' another source indicated. This trimmed contingent will likely focus on athletes with confirmed berths in major upcoming events.
Previous Experience
Last year, the AFI sought visas for over 50 athletes, but only about 20 were able to train for a little over two weeks. The current situation mirrors that experience, highlighting ongoing challenges with visa processing for Polish training camps. The AFI hopes that with government intervention, the process will be smoother this time.
